Last fall, Montgomery County (MD) became the first county to pass a resolution in support of a constitutional right to vote and concrete commitments to boost turnout. In partnership with the Promote Our Vote project, Council President Nancy Navarro began drafting a Right to Vote Resolution last summer.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, yet this fundamental right is not explicitly protected in the U.S. Constitution. While Governor O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly have taken important steps to expand voting opportunities, several other states and the Supreme Court have made devastating decisions to move in the opposite direction,” Navarro said of her motivation for advancing the resolution.

Several state and local leaders, including Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, and D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, showed support for the county’s efforts at an event where President Navarro thanked the Promote Our Vote team for its help with the resolution.

The Right to Vote Resolution was unanimously approved by the council on September 24th, 2013. Consistent with other Promote Our Vote resolutions, the Montgomery County resolution established a Right to Vote Task Force that will be charged with proposing plans for a voter registration program, promoting early voting and same-day registration and recommending changes in state and local ballot practices. While Montgomery County has limited authority in making election law, such policy are determined on the state level, it plans to be a catalyst or offering innovative proposals that state and federal officials can adopt. Montgomery County may be the first county to pass a Right to Vote Resolution, but it won’t be the last. Right now, several local and student governments are in the process of drafting and passing Right to Vote Resolutions. Contact us to learn how you can bring the movement to your area.